Steam generator



July '17, 1928. 1,677,763

M. C. GILLETT STEAI-GNERATOR Original Filed Jan. 18, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet '1' I N V EN TOR. JWrI-imdn 6' G'z' [5256,

' ATTORNEY.

July 17, 1928.

M. C. GI LLETT STEAM GENERATOR Original Filed Jan. 18, 1924 5 Shasta-Sheet 2 mm M r 7 m 3 a F a $1M H k w Jul 17, 1928.

M. C. GILLETT- STBAI GENERATOR 7 Original Filed Jan. 18, 1924 FIG: 5

mm l 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTZRNEY July 17,1928. 1,677,763

M. c. GILLETT STEAM GENERATOR OriginaLFiled Jan. 18, 1924 5 shpets -sheet 4 FIG. 6'.

' INVENTOR.

' Mrrimdn/ Cfillai,

ATTORNEY.

M. C. GILLETI' STEAM GENERATOR July 17, 1928. 1,677,763

ori ml Fil'ed Jan. 18,"1924 5 su 5 AT ORNEY.

Patented July 17, 1928.

- warren j sfrA M'ERRIMAN C. GILLETT, OI"' .P HILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBiilO S'IAIHJAiRJ)' I HEATER' COMPANY; OF' WILLIAMSPOR'IU" PENNSYLVANIA," A CORPORATION PENNSYLVANIAI I STEAM, GENERATOR;

Application. file {January 1s, 1924,. Serial 176; 687,149,. na ed-aty- 18," 192 s.

Thisv invention relates to; water heaters. of the sectional magazine feed. type adapted togenerate steam, and has. for its object to provide a heaterofthis character which will besimple in. construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and moreefiicient in use. than those heretofore; proposed. I -lVith;these.and other objectsinview, the

invention consists. inxthe novel. details of Referring. to the accompanying drawings.-

forming apart of this specification, in which like numerals designate like. parts-'inpall the.

Views: V a e a Figure 1:is area-r elevational. view of. a

heater made in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is atransverse'sectional .View of one of the choke members taken ontheline 22 of Figureb;v

Figure 3 is a side elevationalvview of the parts shown'inFigurel; f Figure tisa longitudinal sectional detail view of oneof the choke members; 7

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5.-5. of Figure 1, lookingin the direction'ofthe arrows; p I

Figure 6 is a verticalsectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 7, looking; in. the direction of the. arrows and, showing. a slightly modified form of theinvention; and Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View taken-n the line7,-7 ofFigurefi, looking in thedirection'ofthe arrows.

1 indicates any suitablevsupporting members for the boiler, 2 the: intermediate individual sectional heating members while 33in.- dicates the front, an'dthe rear "heatingmembers, each of which is provided with the flue spaces 'and the hollow leg portions 6. The bottom header 7" connects said leg portions Got the rear section, by means of the pipes 8; 9 representswater supply pipes to the back heater section .4, which-is made larger than are the-sections 2, andlOrepresents a-magazinei for fuel which is located between the sections as best-illustrated in Figure 7 Saidsmagazine 10,.is provided with converging portlons. 11 to aidin liolding the fuel therein and at the lower edges. of

member 16 as shown.

heater.

said converging portions 11 are disposed "a pair o'fchoke members 12 and '13, as illus trated." I

14 and1l5' represent inclined grate sections provided with a hollow center supporting a 17 represents any suitable grate shaking mechanism, ,and' 18 the combustion chamber; 19,- 20, 21 and 22' represent raised knife" edge b'aflles with which the sections are provided to-convey away the gases of combustion to. the exits 23', which are joined to the smoke stackor chimney connections 24;. Each section 2 be tween the flue spaces '5 v is" provided with a plurality of water passages, the outside Walls ofwhic are indicated'at25, Figure" 7 and underneath the lower ends of said fine spaces 5, each-of said'sections are-further provided With aJwater passage, the outsidewallof which is'indicatedat'26'." In' addition to th'epassagesj25 andf26, the leg p'or; tions 6 are hollow and form passages connected with said passages and26, all as will be readily understood. Each of the sections are further provided near the bottom'sj thereof with the nipples 27', which when joined together, as indicatedin Figure 3, form a continuouspassa'ge '28 for water. extendi n T from the'front to the back of the here are'ftwo ofth'ese passages 28 at the bottombf theheater andthere are two similarpassages atthetop' of the heater, as=illustrated at 30, passing through the nipples 31, Figure v7'. 32'illustrates. connections. for leading ofl'theheated fluid, and 33jany suitable damper regulator.

As is .well'known, it is Very desirablei'n deed to provide the choke members 12 and l3 with' a waterfcooling means for these parts are'jsubje'ctedw such 'ver hightem- 'perat ures thatin practice they's ow a rapid deterioration. Inv this, case,:therev are pros .videdfthetop,v connections 35 and 36 leading. fromtheback section'to the choke members 13 anda12lrespectively,as will be clear.

from the drawings, and. there are also provided'the bottom 'connectionsj37. and 38 lead-, ing, from said choke' members to. the bottom or return header 7.

Each'of the choke members 12 and13 are provided with a partition 39, see Figures 4 and" 7 to provide a pair of channels 40 and and 3 of the drawings.

41 for the water. It will be clear from the drawings that as they are subjected to a high temperature, water will pass upwardly through the connections 37 and 38 from. the return header 7 to the lowest of said channels 40, around said partitions 39, into the upper of said channels 41, and out said connections 35 and 36 to the back section 4, thus keeping said coke members 12 and 13 relatively cool.

It is further desirable to cool the central supporting section 16 of the grate, and to this end there is provided the pipe 42, see Figure 1, which is conveniently led into said member 16, at its rear end, see Figures 1 From the front end of said member 16 leads the pipe 43 to the front section 3asillustrated, so that water continuously passes through said member 16, as will be readily understood.

In thesomewhat modified form of the 'vention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, 1n

steadof cooling the members 16 with water it is cooled with air. That is, the said mem- 3 her 16 is open at its front end 45, Figure 6,

andis provided with numerous holes 46 on its under side comnninicating with the ash chamber. Cold air is sucked in through the end 45, and holes 46, traverses the member 16, and passes out ofits rear end into the pipe 47 which is provided with the branches 48 and 49, see Figures 6 and 7. These branches 48 and 49 enter the combustion chamber at the points 50 and 51 respectively, as best shown in Figure 7 i The operation of this steam generator will be understood from the foregoing but may be briefly summarized as follows: Water being admitted through the pipes 9 into the rear section 4, at points well up above the bottom of said section, it strikes hot water already there and thus does notstrike the hottest portions of the heater, and consequently it does not through excessive contractions and expansions strain or wear out the same to the same degree as would be the case if the water were admitted near the bottom of said section 4 or to a hotter portion thereof. Further, thewater from said pipes 9 in the rear section being cooler than the water in the other sections, owing to the fact that it hasjust entered the'boiler, said water cir- "culates downwardly through the water legs 6' on the outside edges of said section 4, and thence upwardly through the passages 25 and up to the passages 30. From the lowest portions of the legs 6, said water passes into the succeeding sections 2 of the boiler, through the nipples 27 along the passages 28 to the front of the heater,.whence owing to the constantly increasing temperature of the water as it reaches the front of the boiler, said water expands and thereby increases in volume, and rises to the top nipples 31. It

passes thence through said nipples along both top edges of the sections back to the rear section or unit 4. This increase in volume is further enhanced by the water vapor gen erated in the water and to the pressure which is necessarily exerted by said vapor so that the level of. said. water.,.will .besomewhat is very desirable indeed-in a heater of the character described. The members 55 and 56'' are closed outlet connectionsprovided on the header 7, see Figure 1, by which hot. water may be drawn from the heater if desired, while the members58 and 59 are suitable drain connections also provided in" the header 7 for emptying the'said heater. As

it is often desirable to have, a small supply of hot water available at all times, even when the fires are banked, and as the'choke members 12 and 13 are under such conditions hot enough to supplyfit, it is found convenient to tap the connections 35 and 36, and supply them with small pipes, as indicated at 60, see Fig. 1, for this purpose, or a supply of this character may be obtained from the drain )ipes, not shown.

A little consideration will show that as the chokemembers 12 and 13 are always very hot relatively to the other portions of the boiler, the water in the top connections will be always quite hot so that by providing the inlet pipes 9 in the back section or unit 4,. and connecting said pipes well up above said choke members 12 and 13, the hot'water from said connections 35 and 36 immediately comes into contact with the cold water from the pipes 9, and thus again, serves to temper said cold water and to prevent sudden'racking strains due to expansions and contractions which would be experienced by the boiler if said pipes 9 were connected at a point near the bottom of section or unit 4, as has been the custom heretofore. As a matter of fact, thereis a continuous circulation of water from the pipes 9 down each water leg 6 of section4, through the connections 8 tothe header? and up the connections 37 and 38 back to the choke members 13 and 12 respectively. This' circulation of water effectually protects said choke members against the deteriorating action of the fire which'other choke members have heretofore experiencedp I In addition to thisthe choke members 12 and 13 are continuous from the front sec:

drawings and" may be. removed one or: both at a time withoutdestroying the rest of the boiler.

In other words, this particular boiler is not only made up of separate sections or units but the units themselves are made in,

halves'as illustrated andthe choke members are madein separate pieces so-that when any particular portion of the boiler becomes worn out or needs replacing, repairs canbe eflected In addition tothe choke members lQ-and 1'3, being- 'water" at aminimum of expense.-

cooled and providing the continuous circulation above mentioned, the-middle supportingmember 16 of the grate sections 14Wa-nd 15 is likewise either cooledwith water orair" as'may be desired. That is to say, in Figures 1' andb, there is a constantcirculation of waterfrom therean section 4 through the connections 8,3header 7, pipe 42, grate supportingsection 16 and pipe 43, backto the front section 3 which latter ofcourse is connected with water passages to said section 4. There being a considerable amount of water vapor or steam formed in said member- 16 under the conditions stated, it readily escapes up the pipe 43 int0- the section 3 and joins the steam or vapor; which is given ofli by the other sections or units of the boiler and thus is thecirculation promoted.

In the somewhat modifiedform of the invention shown in Figures 6'and 7, a' por tion of the air that is suckedin through the front end 45 of the -member-16, may be i passed through theholes 46- underneath the grate, and another portion may be passed through the pipes 47, 48 and 49 intothe fi-rev box. If the valves 65' are closedthe; air--to the combustion chamber will be cut off and all ofthe air, sucked in atthe end45'will be passed into the ash pit and come up through the grate bars and fuel into the said-combustion chamber. Of" course, when all of the air sucked inpasses through-the fuel, the fire will burn more rapidly but when a portionofsaid, air isalso delivered into the combustion chamber 18, atthe points -50 and 51, as indicated, it mingles with the carbon.

monoxide gas at, said points and, further aids in the burning of. said monoxidegas to the dioxide form.

In other words, a supply of fresh air at the points 50and 51 in the combustion chamber willcause heat units to be deliveredin' the boiler and less carbon monoxide, CO," to escape up through the smoke stack.

Stated in other. words, when the valves what would. be the effect if cold. air: were introduced; into the said combustion chamber.- That is, the hotair more readily combines with the carbon monoxide present and im:

mediately givesup the heat. dueto the for-' mation of'carbondioxide befone said: gases have passed very farthrough. thefurnacev which .wouldxnot.bathe-case if:cold air'were introduced at the points .50 and 51'.

The introduction ofvthis hot air into. the. combustion chamber at the points 50 andzfil, located immediately. adjacent to or near. the

' chokemembers 12 and 13*of necessity causes:

alhigher temperature toactupon said choke. membersthan would otherwise be. the; case.

But, due to the fact thatpartitions 39:are

at" the sametimepreventing the deteriora tion ofthe chokemembers 12 and 13-which would result from: said higher temperature if the'partition'39=and channels-40 and 41;

were not provided It is obvious that those skilledinthearti may vary the details of the construction as well as the arrangement of parts withoutide parting from thespirit of the :invention and therefore I do not wish tobelimited .to the above disclosure except as may. be required by the claims. What Icliaim i's 1: In-asteam generator, the combination of a plurality ofiwater circulating sections including a front and a back section, said sections being so shaped as:toform a choke. magazine; a pair of hollow choke-members each provided with a pair ofwater chan nels' disposed along the'lower edges of saidmagazine and forming a continuation .of'the: choke sides thereof; awater inlet tothelback section above said choke 1 members; a water header joining the side edges of said back section; upper water connections betweenone ofthe channels in each of said choke members and saidback section; lower wateri' magazine;a pair of hollow choke members eachiprovided with a pair of water channels disposed along the lower edges of said magazine and forming a continuation of the choke sides thereof; a water inlet to the back section above said choke members;a water header joining the side edges of said back section; upper water connections between one of the channels in each of said choke members and, said back section; lower water connections between said header and the other of said channels in each of saidchoke members; a combustion chamber into which said water cooled choke members extend;

' v a grate hollow supporting member provided with means for admitting air to its interior associated with said combustion chamber; and valved air conveying means including air conveying connections between said hollow member and the upper portion of said combustion chamber for-cooling said supporting member. V

3. In a steam generator, the combination of a plurality of water circulating sections including a front and a back section, said sections being so shaped as to form achoke magazine; a pair of hollow choke members each provided with a pair ofopenlycon-' nected water channels, said members sup- 1 ported by said front and back sections and disposed along the lower edges of said magazine and forming a continuation of the choke sides thereof; a water inlet to the back section above said choke members; a water header joining the side edges of said back section; upper water connections between one of the channels in each of said choke members and said back section; lower water connections between said header and the other of said channels in each of said choke members; a combustion chamber into which said chok members extend; a grate hollow supporting member associated with said combustion chamber and provided with means for admitting air to its interior; and valved means for cooling said supporting member. 7

a. In a steam generator, the combination of a plurality of water circulating sections includinga front and a back section, said sections being so shaped as to form a choke magazine; apair of hollow choke members each provided with a pair of water channels disposed along the lower edges oflsaid magazine and forming a continuation of the choke sides thereof; a water inlet to the back section above said choke members; a, water header joining the side edges of said back section; upper water connections between one of the channels in each of said choke members and said back section; lower water connections between said header and the other of said channels in each of said choke members; a combustion chamber into which said choke members extend; a grate hollow supporting member associated with said combustion-chamber'and provided with means for admitting air to its interior and delivering a portion thereofunderneath said grate; and connections between said supporting member and said combustion cham-' ber constitut ng means for raising the -tem-' perature in said combustion chamber.

. 5. In a steam generator, the combination of a plurality of water circulating sections including a front and a back section, said sections being so shaped as to form a choke magazine; a pair of hollow choke members each provided with a pair of water channels disposed along the lower edges of said magazine and forming a continuation of the choke sides thereof; a water inlet to the means for admitting air to its interior and delivering a portion thereof underneath said grate; andvalved connections between said supporting member and said combus-' tion chamber constituting means for variably raising the temperature in said combustion chamber in accordance with the unconsumed gases therein while' cooling said supporting member. '7

6. In a steam generator, the combination of a plurality of water circulating sections including a front and a back section,said

sections-being so shaped as to form a choke magazine; pair of hollow choke members each provided with a pair of water channels disposed along the lower edges of said mags azine and forming a continuation of the choke sides thereof; a water inlet to the back section above said choke members; awater header oimng the slde edges of said back section; upper water connections between one of the channels in each of said choke members and said back section; lower water connectionsbetween said header and the other of said channels in each of said choke members; a combustion chamber into,

which said choke members extend; a grate hollow supporting member associated with said combustion chamber and provided with means for admitting air to its interior and delivering some of the air underneath said grate; and connections between said supporting member and said combustion chamber adjacent said choke members constituting means for raising the temperature in said combustion chamber. V

T. In a steam generator adapted to burn choke members associated with the lower edges of said magazine and forming a continuation of the choke sides thereof; a combustion chamber into which said choke members extend; a grate to support the burning fuel disposed below said chamber; a hollow supporting member for said grate provided with means to admit air thereto; and pas sages leading from the interior of said supporting member to above and below the burning fuel constituting means for cooling said supporting member.

8. In a water heater the combination of a plurality of sections placed side by side and so shaped as to form a choke fuel magazine; water cooled chokemembers associated with the lower edges thereof; a combustion chamberinto which said choke members extend; an inclined grate disposed below said chamber; a hollow supporting member for said grate provided with meansfor admit-.

ting air to its interior; and pipe connections between said supporting member and said combustion chamber constituting means for air cooling said supporting member as well as means to deliver air into the upper portions of said combustion chamber to raise the temperature therein.

9. In a steam generator adapted to burn fuel the combination of a pluralit of sections placed side by side and so shaped as to form a choke fuel magazine; water cooled choke members associated withthe lower edges of said ma azine and forming acontinuation of the c oke sides thereofa com-s bustion chamber into which said choke memsupporting member for said grate provided with means to admit air to its interior; and passages leading from the interior of said supporting member to above and below the burning fuel constituting means for cooling said supporting member as well as means to deliver air into the upper portions of said combustion chamber to raise the temperature therein. a a

'10. In a steam generator the combination of a plurality of sections placed side by side and soshaped as to form a fuel'magazine and a combustion chamber below said magazine; a grate disposed below said chamber; a hollow supporting member for said grate provided with means for admitting cooling air to its interior and delivering a portion of the same underneath said grate; means for delivering another portion of said cooling air into the upper portion of said combustion chamber; and a valve for controlling the flow of said air into said chamber.

I 11. In a steam generator the combination of a plurality of sections placed side by side and so shaped as to form a fuel magazine and a combustion chamber below said magazine; a grate disposed below said chamber; a hollow supporting member for said grate-provided with means for admitting cooling air to its interior and delivering a portion of the same underneath said grate; and means comprising valved pipe connections for delivering another portion of said air to the top portion of said combustion chamber.

In testimony whereof I afiix In signature.

MERRIMAN C. G LLETT. s 

